Improvement in cards for social games



2 Sheets--Sheet 1.3 P. w EST.

. Cards for Social Games ,No.155',778. V Patehted0ct. 6.,1874.

I Josh Billings'. Petroleum V. Nasl y.

Mark Twaih. P n y N ws Man. Danbury News Man. M

Wmflmgmmamsrs.

- MARK TWAIN. DANBURY- NEWS MAN."

- 1. x. mm.

Josh Billings. Josh Billings. l Petroleum V. Nasby. Mark Twain. Dapbury News Man. Petroleum Y. Nashy.

2 sheets- -sheet 2.

l. v l /WEST. H l Bards for-Social Games.

' N0,I55,77,8; "Patented-Oct 6,1874,

mavgusfs. mvwsrs.

-WILLIAM MT I'I IACKERAY. WILLIAM WEI (115 COLLINS.

Charles Dickens. 5 William Makepeace Th r y V William Wilkie'Collins. Nathaniel Hawthorne.

Naihaniel Hawthorgei Charles Dickens.

MQVELBTS. MQVBMSFS.

NAT}IIANIEL HAWTHORNE. CHARLES DICKENS- Charles Dickens. William Wilkie Collins.

William Wilkie Collins. I William M. Thackeray.

William M. Thackeray. Nathaniel Hawthorne.

PATENT OFFICE.

PRESRU YfwEST oE WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR To THE WEST aLEE GAME AND PRINTING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

INlPRQVEMENTlN CARDS FoR SOCIAL GAMES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 155378, dated October 6, 1874; application filed June 26, 1874.

' To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PRESRURY WEST, of y thereof, suflicientto enable others skilled inthe art to which my invention belongs to make and use the Same.

The accompanying illustrations represent groups or books of cards constructed in accordance with my invention.

The nature of my invention consists in a series of cards for social games, illustrated with portraits of distinguished or noted persons, said portrait-cards being arranged in books or groups of cards, which are classed, numbered, or designated according to the title, profession, or occupation of the persons whose portraits are borne upon the cards of the respective groups.

This invention will be clearly understood by reference to the accompanying illustrations, Sheets 1 and 2, wherein are shown two books of cards, designated by'the class-headings Humorists and Novelists, the same being a portion of a pack composed of different classes of authors or persons connected with literature.

In the present instance the books are formed with four cards; but a greater or less number may be used as a book, if preferred.

The portraits are shown in connection with the names of the persons associated in the same class, those on Sheet 1 being designated by nom de plume, and those on Sheet 2 by the true name of the persons. The profession or clas's-designationis printed at the top of the card. The name of the person whose portrait is borne upon the card is also at the top, While beneath the portrait are the names of the persons whose portraits are borne on the other cards which belong to the same book. This is the preferable arrangement; although the matter borne upon the cards may, if desired, be differently arranged or designed, and more or less printed matter be used in connection with the portrait without departing from the nature of my invention; also, when desired, the classes or books may be numbered as 1, 2, 3, 4, &c.

A sufficient number of books or classes are employed to form a pack of the requisite number of cards, more or lessin the present thirty-two-and the game may be played as follows, viz:

The cards, being first shuffled, are dealt to the several players. After the distribution the player at the left of the-dealer begins the game by calling upon any other player for some card needful to complete a book, one or more cards of which he holds in his hand. He continues thus to call until he misses or fails to receive a card called for, when the next player to his left takes the turn. and calls in similar manner. The books are stacked upon the table as soon as completethat is, all cards of a book t0getherand a player having thus stacked the greatest number of books at the end of the game is deemed the winner.

Other methods of playing these cards may be employed, as I do not confine their use to any particular game.

Different packs of cards may also be made to contain portraits of different classes of persons, and the packs designated by a general class-name, as,for instance, Royalty, Statesmen, Americans, Authors, 850., the books under these headings or packs being classed, respectively, as, for Royalty pack, -Emperors, Kings, Queens, Princes, &c.; for a Statesmen pack, Presidents, Senators, Governors, 850.; for Americans pack, New Englanders,,Southerners, Californians, 850.; for Authors pack, as herein shown, with others.

By the employment of personal portraits,

as herein described, not only is the game made more interesting and instructive, but the children or others who play become familiar with the personal appearance of those whose portraits are shown; and, being thus familiar, they more readily remember incidents and anecdotes connected with the life, history, or works of such persons, while all matter or history, wherever found, relating to such individuals, is read or accepted with greater interest and with a better understanding than could be attained without such familiar mental association.

The method of classing the portraits in groups or books by rank, occupation, or profession is also of great service in assisting the memory regarding the services and positions of the respective persons, and the relative -merits of their works.

Having described my improvements in cards for social games, what I claim therein as new and of my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

A series of cards for playing the game of authors, herein described, consisting essentially of cards having upon their faces portraits of distinguished writers, and provided PRESBURY WEST.

Witnesses:

CHAS. H. BURLEIGH, FRANCES L. WEs'r. 

